#TalkingThursday – If you don’t talk about Jesus who will?

Every step I take forward seems like two steps back.

The faster I run, the farther you are.

Victory, when will I have you in my arms?

Victory is staring me in the face.

I taste it every time but I can’t touch it. I can’t hold it. I can’t live in it.

Victory already available but yet so far away.

Victory, sitting there waiting.

I stand there helpless, wanting to hold on to it, but powerless to do so.

I’ve heard so many “truths” but I’m trying to filter them in my head.

What makes a truth really true?

What is the standard of truth?

Truth? What distinguishes truth from Truth?

They say your word is Truth but I’m overwhelmed.

Saddled with the obviousness of my weakness.

What can I do? I need extra help.

I am stumbling under the burden to be perfect for you.

I reach out to your Truth with one hand, while the other is holding on to all the other things I know to be true.

All apparent solutions produce dead-ends.

Seems like a no-hope situation.

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If you’re feeling like this, this post is for you. This one is for the weak, the tired, the church hurt, the fed up, the broken, the worn out and anyone feeling like their circumstance has become an identity. I want to encourage you, God has not forgotten about you. I wrote this post because the fourth instruction God gave us this year is: encourage the fainthearted.

Fainthearted (Definition):

—the condition or state of being timid, fearful, weak in emotions, lacking will and courage.

When anxiety from the circumstances of life weighs us down, only a good word can restore hope and make us glad again! (Proverbs 12:25). Proverbs 16:24 says gracious words bring health to the body. When we are faced with the fainthearted, let us ensure that our words are seasoned with grace, so that we may build them up, not tear them down even further! (Proverbs 12:18, Ephesians 4:29).

 

When you’re feeling down most times you don’t see how what you’re experiencing now factors into your purpose in life. But know this: God sees that where you are now has what it takes to prepare you for where you’re going. There are no liabilities in God’s kingdom. Only lights. Know your God. Know your source. Know your form. Know who you are made of. To remind you of all these things, we’ve put together 20 encouraging and inspiring bible verses, hope you are blessed by them!

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1. Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Reminder: Be strong and courageous. God will not leave or forsake you.

2. Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

Reminder: Fear Not. God strengthens, helps and upholds you with His righteous right hand.

3. The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

Reminder: God is in your midst and mighty to save. He will quiet you with His love.

4. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13) 

Reminder: God is faithful. He will make a way of escape. Trust Him.

5. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,  as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Reminder: You are being renewed through this trial. Don’t lose heart. 

6. Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. (Psalm 55:22 )

Reminder: Cast your burdens on the Lord. He will sustain you.

7. Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29)

Reminder: God will give you rest. Come to Him.

8. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Reminder: God will guard you with His peace. Say yes to prayer!

9. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Reminder: God has good plans for you. Trust Him.

10.  God is not a man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfil it? (Numbers 23:19)

Reminder: God always makes good on his promises. Trust His timing.

11. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)

Reminder: Don’t lean on your own ideas. They might fail.

12. I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD,  the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1-2)

Reminder: Your help comes from God. Focus on Him.

13. Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. (Proverbs 16:3)

Reminder: Always commit your plans to God first.

14. Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

Reminder: Strength comes from hoping in the Lord and His promises.

15. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

Reminder: The one who’s in you is strong enough to overcome the world.

16. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. (Psalm 119:50)

Reminder: God’s promises preserve your life, now and forevermore.

17.  No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the LORD. (Isaiah 54:17)

Reminder: The enemy cannot harm you without God’s permission. 

18. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

Reminder: God is fighting for you. God is on your side!

19.  For we live by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)

Reminder: What you see isn’t all there is. Have faith.

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!!!! SOME EXTRA INSPIRING VERSES !!!!

♦If you’re feeling fainthearted because of the guilt of past sins, remember 2 Corinthians 5:17 — If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here.

Reminder: The old you is gone, you’ve been made new!

♦If you’re feeling fainthearted because God feels distant, remember Romans 8:38-39 — For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Reminder: Absolutely nothing can separate you from God’s love!

♦If you’re feeling fainthearted because of your finances, remember Hebrews 13:5 — Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,  “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Reminder: God will always provide your needs. Be content!

♦If you’re feeling fainthearted because you are under the pressure of trials, remember James 1:2-4 — Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Reminder: Trials produce maturity, so persevere in rejoicing!

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Finally, remember:

God will not be absent when His people are on trial; he will stand in court as their advocate, to plead on their behalf.

— Charles Spurgeon

Emotions and circumstances are not the full story, they too will pass but God’s word endures forever, focus on God’s word, focus on the eternal. When you focus on yourself……you get depressed, When you focus on others…..you become envious, BUT When you focus on GOD…..you get a breakthrough!

SELAH